Featured Hi. Newbie Here

'Bloor's Triumphs stay together much better than the Meriden offerings, probably can dispatch the 'accessories for keeping things gathered'. (How did I do for a yank?)'

True enough, but many years in between of course.

Thanks for the welcome everyone.

So, talking of Meriden, my Bonnie is not my first Triumph. That was a 1975 registered, but 1973 built, 500cc Daytona. It was one of the 250 or so bikes locked in at Meriden by the workers, who staged a sit in against the factory closure. After 18 months or so, the then government Trade Minister, Tony Benn, helped them create the first 'Workers Co-operative' business. Their first task was to release the locked in bikes. Slocombes? of Neasden, north London bought most of them. They were all US spec bikes with wider bars and small tanks (I wonder if that was styling or if our 'merican friends are not too good at steering and never go further than a gallon of gas ). Whatever, you chose the one you wanted from a batch of bikes that were new but didn't look it and paid the man £625. Anyone know where it is - LLB721P. (images to follow).
Fast forward to 2000 and I was feeling a bit more flush than when I needed to sell that Daytona, so I started looking for it. DVLA would tell me little, but did have it on the system as a 650cc. So it had been converted to look like a Bonnie probably as they were much more valuable. Then I read a newspaper article about John Bloor. About how he first bought the brands, then kept a trickle of production with a dealer (Harris?) in the south west somewhere, until he built a factory, sources all manner of bits and went into production of the new range. I knew nothing about it, but the article was history leading to the 'new' Bonneville. Marking his desire to have a range of classic styled bikes - without the oil on floor designs - .

So I thought, well, I was helping the guys at Meriden back in '75, why not help the guys at Hinckley in 2000. So I bought one, sight unseen!! 'Ere tis...

 

And here is the Daytona. What on earth was I thinking putting that screen and spotlights on? The rear rack was also 'aftermarket'.

 

And a colour one...

 

Thanks bikerman.

That screen was a true piece of s...t. Once, I had ridden to my, long gone now, parents house in Worthing from where we lived in north Buckinghamshire. On the way home I went up the M1 and the wind caused a violent vibration that forced me to slow done in a rush! It was one of few screens available back then. It soon came off after that!!

By comparison. The little screen on the Bonnie is brilliant

 

Its a forum Winglad. Tis what appens.

 

I was a bit older than your friend, twenty four, when I bought that Daytona. They were all a bit ‘Friday afternoon’ really. After all, they were 1973 built bikes made in a factory NVT was trying to close down! Meriden.
Mine was reliable though once sorted after purchase. But marriage, babies, mortgage, broke etc forced the sale of it. At the same price I paid for it- £625!!